001I'm going to call this meeting to order. Roll call, we have all board members present. Also want to welcome members of Mr. Zukowski's AP Government and Politics class this evening. So glad that they're joining us. It is the practice of our Board of Education to begin our meeting with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance. We invite you to bow your heads for prayer and stand to join us in the pledge if you so choose. Mr. Summers. >> Lord, we respectfully ask for your guidance and wisdom as we proceed with the business before us. Keep us mindful of our purpose of providing a quality education for the students attending Taylor County schools. Amen. >> Dr. Stallings, do you have any adjustments or addendums to the agenda? >> Actually, I do, Ms. Gallo. It's just one. If
002all of you will reference item 3001. There's been some confusion about whether that should say can or car. And in fact, it says neither. We are we renting a van. That was a typo inadvertently placed. That is all. >> Students should also be plural in that sentence. Or in the sentence before that. >> Students, yeah. Both better. >> That is true. Maybe there was just one rich kid. >> So, with the grammar and uh typo adjustments, the superintendent respectfully requests the approval of the agenda as presented. Do I have a recommendation? >> I moved. >> Mr. Taylor moves. >> Second. >> Mr. Summers seconds. All those in favor? >> Aye. Any opposed? The ayes have it, 5-0. That moves us down to um information. We have Mr. Bobby Beltner here for delegation. So, you want
003to come on up? Mrs. Beltner is recusing at this time. >> I have to turn that microphone on, too. On the bottom. There you go. >> Can you hear me? >> Yep. >> All right. So, first off, I'm going to ask according to the policy if I can have extra time because I thought I was coming for a presentation uh asking for funding. I didn't know I was going to be a delegation. So, I don't know that I can cover this in 5 minutes. >> Mr. Beltner, how much time are you requesting? >> I like to talk, but I don't I don't need the whole 45 minutes, but I'd like to have maybe extra 5 minutes. >> Okay, 10 minutes. Is that good? Okay. >> Okay. >> Just as a reminder though, you know, we're
004>> at >> not able to to um ask you any questions or the board can't take any action, so I just need to remind you. Thank you. >> which basically makes it a moot point for me to even be here. Um so >> be taking notes on your behalf, Mr. Beltner, so I can put together a recommendation on your behalf. >> I don't think it's going to be needed. Um so back in April as common practice I sent an email to Rich Board asking if he had funding for a equipment trailer for football for $13,000 knowing that he didn't and knowing that I would get turned down, but it's part of the process. So I got an email saying he didn't have it, but he would send the my request on to Matt Mr. Knapp
005who he was sure would speak to Mr. Stallings. A couple days later I got a phone call from Mr. Knapp saying that he talked to the finance guy who instructed him to uh let me know to try and raise half the funds and then approach the board for the other funding. So that put me in a pickle because I already had it done. And I have been raising funds since February the 1st, I've raised over $30,000. Now in 8 years at the middle school I raised 62,000 eyes in my program. 22 of that $30,000 we've put into the weight room on top of other work. But since I'm here and I'm I'm going to shout out my football team and my program and what we've done since February. So here's because I've told I got
006to show some skin in the game. And and I'm sure all sports can show skin in the game. But I'm not here for all sports, I'm here for football. And I'm going to tell you what all we've done since February 1st outside of raising over $30,000. We've worked the Rotary Buckwheat Dinner, we worked the Humane Society Dinner, we worked the EDA trout stocking event, we worked two home track meets, we volunteered for the Memorial Day parade, we cleaned the field in the area behind Grafton High School in place of weightlifting prior to graduation. We removed the stage, chairs, and decorations from the field immediately following graduation. I went to weightlifting today and couldn't find my kids. The other coaches were already there. They were up in the school removing stuff out of classrooms so they
007can buff the floors and then we put it back for them. We've repaired the weight room floor, cleaned, painted, added murals to the weight room. We've We've repaired, painted, cleaned the facilities building locker room in the hallway. I secured funding for t-shirts for a free youth football camp this Sunday. I'm working on cleaning the field scoreboard both for football and soccer to remove the oxidation. We'll be cleaning and painting the exterior of the facilities building. We will be cleaning and touching up the press box. And I've also scheduled a cleanup day for the campus and field at GHS for Sunday, August 23rd at 9:00 a.m. Again, in my 8 years at TCMS, we raised $61,223.47. I've never one time come to the board and asked for money for anything. Football is your most expensive sport
008without question. Why do I need a trailer, you may ask? One is to protect our equipment. We have well over $100,000 worth of equipment count, you know, with helmets, shoulder pads, uniforms, blocking equipment, medical supplies, our new sideline technology and tools. This trailer allows us to keep them safe, secure, and clean. I have I did the same thing at Taylor County Middle School. Mr. Gallo will have a nice 7 by 14-foot trailer fully equipped that that they can take to games. And the importance of that is you're able to take everything you need. And you're able to get it there all together. Number two, it's safe and organized. Number three, it supports away games. Number four, it saves coaches time. It It improves security and it allows me to go out in the community with
009a moving billboard for parades and It represents our program. It's a long-term investment and it's not a luxury, it's a necessity that protects our equipment, improves safety and organization, ensures efficient transportation to games and events, saves coaches and volunteers time, provides secure storage, supports youth and community outreach, promotes school pride and sponsors, and protects the school's long-term investment in its athletic program. So, the issue that I have now is the season is approaching really quick. The next board meeting is August the 11th. The trailer, the only trailer in North Central West Virginia available, will be sold tomorrow. Tomorrow is it. So, if they order one, four-week minimum delivery time. We already have played two away scrimmages and two away games. That's four of our seven travel uh venues that we have. So, it really it's
010it's a moot point because I'm not I'm not going to have time to get it ready, nor are we going to be able to use it but for three games. So, I wanted to go ahead and take the time and come and speak. I've seen other entities come and ask for money and they were either put on the agenda or they were listed under information where there could be some questions asked and some information shared. For whatever reason I was put on a delegation, I'll never know. I don't think it's right. And I think it's going to cost me. I had a sponsor to pay for the other half. I was asking and and I'll pass these quotes out to you and and what all was going in the trailer, you can do what you
011want with them, but I had a sponsor that was willing to pay our half to allow me to use the other money that I've raised to purchase other things. Things that we've purchased include wrist bands. Uh I just ordered helmet stickers. That doesn't sound like a lot, but it was $600. And that I raised the funds to purchase that. Uh coach board at the high school and the high school administration has been great. They pay for our reconditioning. I have to send all of our helmets off every year and our shoulder pads. This year it was almost $8,000. And that's every year and that's money well spent. It's a safety feature. And it's mandated for high school. And my first 3 years at the middle school the football program paid for it. And then when
012I found out how the high school did, we got it changed. But again, because I'm not able to talk, I'm not you guys are unable to vote. At this point it's a moot point, but I'll figure something out like I always do. And that's all I got. >> It's okay. I can pass them out if you want. >> I need eight copies so that the superintendent could have one. >> Okay. >> The superintendent and assistant superintendent. I did not make Mr. Beltner one. >> Okay. Thank you, Mr. Beltner, for coming to the board. >> Uh could we be assured that this will be on our next agenda, please? >> That is the plan, Mr. Taylor. Once I receive information that would let us know how much they are requesting. >> Just so I understand the
013process. >> [clears throat] >> He signs up for a delegation. If if we see that uh if if the board wants to move to to to discuss it at another meeting, then we can move to discuss it at the at the next meeting. Have it put on the agenda. Is that correct? >> That is correct. There's also something if I garner information and can put together recommendation for that next meeting to save that additional discussion. That's also a possibility. The the process that we have learned that should be in pro- in place includes receiving information such as we just did. Us hearing that, taking notes about what is being presented, reviewing the information they've submitted. Then then it's my job to put a recommendation on the agenda for you to you to approve or not
014approve. And part of that in process includes me making sure the funding exists. So, it just saves a lot of that confusion. Uh It is disappointing that it's this time of the year and I I I I'll apologize that we're seemingly it's not like we're pushing it down the road. And I the event the sale of just the only one that you've that has been mentioned tonight uh is an unfortunate circumstance. Um To answer your question. Thank you. >> I I I would I would like a question as well. Uh just again for my clarification. So, if this is going to be on the board agenda uh for the next meeting. Um So so like I I just don't want to come in there and then ask you a bunch of questions. We may have
015to kick it down the road again. So, I don't want to do that if I can, but I have questions like and they don't have to be answered tonight, but for consideration in in our future meetings is um you know, is is is is this uh board property? Is it covered by our current insurance policies? Uh what if it was in an accident? Who's who's going to pull the trailer? And is if it's a volunteer, a parent, is that person responsible for insurance and all that? I just I just want to make sure we cover those things as we uh you know, go through this process uh and just make sure we understand where that all lies. Uh where where the liability lies, whether it's with us. What if the trailer's stolen sitting at the
016high school? Is that our liability? If it gets in an accident out on the road, is that the person pulling it responsible? If I volunteer to pull it, am I responsible for it? So, we just have to know those things. I'm not looking for >> Sure. As a as a short short answer, Mr. Summers, uh we have multiple vehicles such as you just described, and this one is being requested. I will defer to Mr. Dolan, who keeps us connected with the insurance process. >> So, the vehicle would be titled titled to the Taylor County Board of Education, so therefore it would be it would have a red county tag, as you see on most vehicles that are owned by the county. Uh therefore, it would be insured by our our vehicle insurance and property insurance.
017And historically, what we've done, we've placed a copy of those that insurance policy inside the inside the trailer, cuz we do have a couple of different trailers throughout the county. And like I said, we put a folder inside of there, that way whoever is pulling it has a copy of that, and it we're we're covered. >> And I would assume the people qualified to pull the trailer would be listed like it like we do the chaperones and like we do volunteers and all that stuff would be listed whether they're paid or not. You know, we can discuss that, but I would assume they would have to go through the same process as that as well. So. >> Yeah, the volunteers, like I said, it would that would suffice to be a volunteer that's approved by
018by you all. >> That is true. >> Just for the record, I'm no longer interested in you all having that. Thank you. >> All right, then um moving further in our information, that brings us to the superintendent updates. Can someone let Ms. Beltner No, thank you, Dr. Dolan. >> I was wondering where she was. Me? Thank you. So, I have some updates for the the board to hear and consider or not it just hear about so you'd uh are better informed. One of the things I'll start with as the formatting of the agenda itself has probably started to look a little different. And one of the purposes merely in the information section the uh you were starting to ask those questions Mr. Whitehair and Mr. Summers and so to reflect on that uh you'll notice
019is some of the delineations that have been prior prior put in included in that had been my introduction when I came on board. Uh we're going to be revisiting some of the way that the information is delivered with you in the in the future including as I think I mentioned at the last meeting that the expectation of our building administrators and or designees will be here to provide some of the academic portion so that we can uh all do uh a great job becoming more familiar with individual school student performance and academics which is our primary purpose. Um and in addition anything of any information wise uh with the recommendation in the changes with regard to delegations is intentional uh so that we can make sure that we're not accused by the public for not
020posting proposed amounts of money that are being spent. Um and making those things available without having them been advertised makes it difficult for us to be able to explain that. Um that never means that the board won't be given a recommendation for purchasing and endorse expending funds, but it affords me as the superintendent a chance to at least look into with our our treasurer to make sure these funds one are available and from what source they could be taken. Uh that really answers some of the questions we've been having recently about the transparency of funding and expenditures. Uh hope that's helpful. Moving on to the other things I do not have a folder for you this week, uh but I do have updates and so I would ask that you um uh hear what I'm
021about to share. One you may have been hearing about and hopefully the community has been hearing about because it's not brand new today, but we are on the cusp of uh the Senate Bill 3035, which is the Third Grade Success Act, that we've been hearing about uh just about the time that Dr. Decker and myself came on board. And uh that involves uh making sure that students who are about to end their third grade year have successfully demonstrated proficiency sufficient to be able to go on to fourth grade. Um in the in as we discover students who may be in need of specific supports beforehand, uh we have interventionists and summer intervention programs for instance that we make available. These students who are right now uh in line for that Senate Bill 3 or 3035
022are our current I'll say current because they're about to step into the door as a third grader. It is the FY27 group of students who will be going into through and through third grade this coming year. Uh and uh what we'll be watching and doing is the periodic and you've heard from time to time the I-Ready assessments that Mrs. Roberts has been gracious enough to speak to. Uh those will take place and that's sometime that is part of the information that's being used as data collection. Uh in addition, they'll be uh performing on the West Virginia uh GSA, the other standardized or summative assessment that we use. Um all of that is uh in in response to a universal curriculum that's expected of all the great all the elementary schools we have or every grade
023level elementary school, excuse me. Um that information is then used to determine whether or not a recommendation for uh a retention is appropriate. Uh and that takes place beginning in the middle of the year once we get a chance to see some of the performance data. Um so I hope that's a little helpful. So, in case you hear, "Oh my goodness, they're going to start retaining children." That's not the plan. The policy of the state the state board or the legislative uh Senate bill uh indicated that now to give you a little history uh back about the same time Dr. Decker and I started with you. Uh that policy was also introducing the importance of the requirement to hire aids for grades first, second, and third. We traditionally had aids in our preschools and kindergarten
024classrooms. However, that uh Senate bill 3 035 uh introduced that. Another good piece of that information is Taylor County was a little proactive with that. Instead of phasing in one grade level at a time, we took the initiative to hire aids for grades one and two one time and then followed the subsequent year with grade three. Staying a little bit ahead of the game. So, and we found that that was somebody's good recommendation. I'll give that credit to Dr. Decker. As she's always earning those kinds of accolades because uh I know I'm live streaming and I'm not trying to brag, but we were able to make some good decisions in that direction because we were therefore learning other counties were having difficulty uh locating and and acquiring aids for those positions. Um So, that's all
025good. Uh and we anticipate that the instruction is continuing to be strong for those kids in our third grade such that if in fact we discover there are couple children who require that because they're just not moving as quickly as we would like them to do. Intervention will be provided to them first and then subsequently a recommendation for the possibility of retire uh retention would occur. >> Dr. Stallings, how does that work? Um cuz you you mentioned there would be periodic assessments. >> Yes, ma'am. >> So, >> They do at the beginning of the year, mid middle of year, and end of year assessment with the I-Ready for one example. >> So, when would that decision be made? Would it be made um I guess I'm just asking at what point are we looking at
026the student to see how much intervention is needed and the different phases of that? >> Well, you know, do you remember the red, yellow, and green ranking we've seen in the That's That's the initial indicator that we should start watching students who are falling below the mark of expectation. And then uh subsequent each time we do those assessment, we they real re-evaluate who's falling into which category or achieve Let me say possibly achieving into which category. Uh and then they make intervention recommendations as soon as possible. Does that >> Yeah, I I give a little bit more. So, since this has been introduced every assessment period beginning, middle, and end since these students have been in kindergarten, uh teachers have been sending him letters to parents to inform them if they have not been meeting
027the benchmark. And so, intervention has been happening all along for these students since kindergarten, and they have been notified at each benchmark assessment from kindergarten all the way through third grade. You all approved a policy last month regarding this, that there are certain exceptions that would excuse students from that retention list. There are There was a list of those items and ways that they could be exempt from that retention. There's also an opportunity for retest. So, after the third grade West Virginia Summative Assessment is given, and it's usually in May, and if a student does not meet that standard, they would have an opportunity to attend what we are calling our summer intervention, and then retest again if they did not meet one of the other exemption policies. So, they they have been being notified
028since kindergarten if they're not meeting those benchmark assessments, and obviously been given intervention, and all that has been documented. Mrs. Roberts has worked with our schools and has been doing that since this group was in kindergarten cuz that's when this was introduced. But, there was a list that when you read through that policy of I think nine or 10 exemptions that could exempt a student from being retained, such as if they had been retained previously, we're obviously not going to retain them again. Um if they certain learning disabilities, there were different exemptions listed in that policy that the state created as exemptions. So, we just have to We'll work through those with parents and families, but they will be getting a letter again. We'll do a beginning of the year benchmark, and if they have
029not met that benchmark, the parents will get a letter at once we finish that, which usually is in September, saying again, here's another notification, and here's the intervention we're going to provide, and some steps that we're going to be taking as well, but that's been happening all along. >> So with Oh, go ahead. >> These i-Ready assessments are they're they're knowledge-based and have nothing to do with attendance? >> Correct. They're grade-level standards, so those they're based on the grade-level standards. So what's required to be obtained in that grade level. So they've In kindergarten, there are certain standards that they try to benchmark towards first grade, second grade, third grade. So this would be where they are meeting the third grade standard at this at that time. But we will continue to do those letters. So
030we've done that not just for this third grade, but since that grade was in kindergarten, so kindergarten when then when they went to first grade, the kindergarten first grade got the letters. So then now they're in in second grade, the kindergarten first and second have gotten the letter. So that's just a process that's been put in place for everyone since this current entering third grade as entered kindergarten. So we are doing that for every student, and that data and documentation has to be kept for all of our students to monitor what interventions we've been giving and how we've been informing and notifying families of what's going on with our students. >> So with those letters that go to the parents, is there a return acknowledgement that they received it or is there a phone call
031or like >> I do believe there's a signature on [clears throat] that. Mrs. Roberts manages that, so but I have seen them and we we meet with our elementary principals once a month and so we talk about those. So they definitely if we have a student that's continually not meeting the benchmark, they should be moving to a student assistance team and what we're doing to help them. If we have someone that's repeated Now obviously, you might have a student that just had a bad day and they one test, they don't meet benchmark, but then the next test they're fine and they meet the benchmark. So but they still get that letter for that one time and we document that. So that's all been given so that parents are made aware. But if we have someone
032that's continually struggling, obviously they would that we don't just send the the letter. Then we move into the next process of how we can further support through our student assistance teams. And we are tracking all of all of that intervention. Mrs. Roberts and the elementary principals and some interventionists and some special educators have created a new benchmarking form to track data so that we have data to show all these things that we've been doing and tracking for reading and math intervention and instruction. >> So So I have a good question. I appreciate all you've done. I It sounds like you you're you're you're you're doing your best. You're on top of it. And so I commend you for that. Um and maybe you said it Dr. Stallings and so I just want to clarify for
033the for I missed it and so if anyone else out there missed it. But you do have standardized uh I guess scoring or evaluations across all three uh of our elementary schools which are the same. Not you know, like one school can't be different than another school and all that. So I just want to clarify that for you. >> That is a yes and the expression especially that's the expectation as well. >> Okay. And >> State requires that. >> Right. So >> There may be various ways of delivering certain things of their standards but the standards are standard. >> Right. So so my next question is I'm I'm a statistics guy and a numbers guy and and all that. So so I'm going to ask you for some not this meeting but in in future
034meetings and as we go through the year and get the results. So So the cur- third grade class is graduating third grade in year 2027. So we'll just deal with like 2027. So they started in kindergarten in 2024 if my math's right or so give or take. And um And so do you have the statistics and if not can we start collecting? So for this class that's 2027 third grade like you know, maybe if there was maybe just say across the county I'm just going to pick a number, 12 students that were getting letters sent home. Has that decreased over the years and are we tracking that from other years so that we can see progress is being made? And I don't know if you have that. I don't know if we can get that,
035but that would be a good number to see that that show that this is actually working. We've implemented and it's bringing those numbers down such that you know, it'd be nice if just we're down to less than 1% of the student population for 2027. So >> Right. Mrs. Roberts has that information for us. She maintains She keeps that information as trend data. >> And we don't want students' names. We don't want anything like that. Any demographic data. We just want the statistics numbers and all that and just so we can see kind of rate progress and how we're doing. That allows us if you know, it's allows you to make adjustments necessary, maybe focus on certain things or whatever. It's just always good to have those kind of statistics also. I appreciate that. >> Those
036are the kind of questions we like to hear and I'm I'm charged with watching for that and you are charged as the board to become more and more involved with student performance data. >> And so I don't think we need anything on a monthly basis, but you know, and it'll take a while to compile once you do your evaluation. We understand that, but we would like some periodic updates through that. So >> Often Mrs. Roberts is providing with during the those the three benchmark seasons that happen throughout the year. She She'll continue to do that. >> She provides us a whole chart and it tells you one grade level below, proficient, a grade level above. Like we get all that. We get all that information. >> Perhaps I should have >> those numbers. >> But
037but this was the success was specifically for reading. It it didn't cover math or >> We We get that too. She'll give us all that. >> I may have mis- I may have not given enough information when I made that reference to the red, green, and yellow charts. That's the She color codes that information for us as well. >> Okay. Thank you, Mrs. Galen. >> Is that all you have for us, Dr. Stallings? >> Um the next thing I want to talk with you about is we've been able to obtain a quote for regarding the recently uh questioned conditions of uh um the Camp Tolls bathhouse facilities. And we have received information that it we have learned now uh the costs will be such that it's going to require um a sealed bid to proceed
038with that. Uh and therefore rather than revealing specific quotes and giving someone a leg up on that competition of a sealed bid process which would violate that. Well, I'll be we'll be proceeding with that process. And to keep you more apprised of that when we get more specifics about the results of that process. But we have been uh actively looking into that again. I'll I'll credit uh Mrs. Shoemaker and Miss Dr. Decker for taking on that for us uh to do some legwork and research on that. Other facilities, I want to give you some updates. The new This is just percentages of completion. This is positive news, ladies and gentlemen. The new Anna Jarvis Elementary School is now uh I approximately 70 to 73% complete. Uh it doesn't look like that right now when you
039drive by every day it looks the same, but there's all kinds of work happening inside. And that's what's also calculated into that percentage. Likewise, the new transportation building uh where we're moving uh eventually is approximately 75% complete. If you have not had a chance to drive around the back of the building when you see the retaining wall, it is uh an impressive construction feat and it is going it is making the space available for the uh possibility of quickly moving to either purchase of the tanks so we can move to that facility and continue to address the what prompted the move to begin with and that's the current bus transportation facilities. Uh and lastly of that list, Flemington Elementary School as recently as this afternoon or last night we received an email that told us
040that the new the long-awaited rooftop units uh has has now been is in transport and it will be installed Thursday of this week. In 2 days. That's positive, too. As a quick reminder, uh and as you know in your levy, the funding that is available for the levy we anticipated this with our current levy approximately $3.7 million of revenue coming in every year for that. In fact, uh we are expecting, however, uh having talked with Mr. Dolan, we are expecting as much as $4 million, not 3.7. So, there's an additional funding available. I say that to you uh because that mathematically means $300,000 in case someone was doing the math. Um and at the bottom of the levy call, there's a delineation of if there's any other money that comes in such as I just
041described, it is to be distributed in accordance with 50% for capital improvements, 30% for technology use such as our iPads that we provide our students and staff, as well as the 20% of our board of it's board discretion. And it'll be those uh funds that you would access for uh requests and additional needs. Um someone wants to do that math, it is 150, 90, and 60. So, it'd be 150,000 available for capital improvements, additional pieces of money that will be available. Uh 30% for Excuse me, 90,000 more or money that could be utilized towards technology if and as needed. And then 60,000 that you could use for discretionary funds uh as the board so chooses based on recommendations, etc. Um We are fortunate to have 11. And this is just an indicator of where that
042fortunate plays out. Um With that being said, I think that is this year this this year's this meeting's updates, and I appreciate your time. >> You have a question, Mr. Summers? >> I do, um as usual. The um W- One thing you said about the Anna Jarvis is 70 to 73% complete. Um who's Is Is that the same architect? Who's the I guess the project manager for that? I'm I'm sure everyone else knows but me, but uh >> Well, we have uh a number of players there. So, we have the uh superintendent who is uh uh of the construction. That's the uh Michael Gaynor. We have the superintendent who is the That is Michael Gaynor. Um I'm going uh Jason McQueen serves us there. >> Are Are they county employees or are they hired by
043a firm that Do we have a firm? >> They are hired through the the the construc- the con- the city construction company. >> Okay. >> We hire uh the clerk of the works, and his name is uh Jeffrey Harvey. Mr. Harvey comes to us from having a lot of experience in that area. I believe he originally started or worked in Dodgers County. Um >> But he's a county employee that works I mean, he speaks for us, not the >> Yes, we did an interview process. We advertised, interview, and then we selected that individual. He was approved by our board as uh just as our process was starting. >> And And so, is that 70 [clears throat] to 73% is that his number or is that coming from city construction? >> We have a every other
044week we meet with uh the architect and the construction company and the directors, Dr. Decker, Mr. Dolan, and a couple of uh uh Mrs. Shoemaker. And we posed that question to the con- construction company. And they inform us of what they what they believe to be the case. >> You know, in my in my former life uh in the employment world uh you know, to be a project manager for something, you know, 10, 20, 30 million dollars uh such as this, I mean, you know, I took months and months and months of training and just to get a certification and to understand it. So, when they told me 70% I should be able to look at it some kind of a project chart that shows critical path, that shows milestones met, milestones missed, and all
045that stuff. And And And so, you know, but it you know, the tools gave you some pretty good numbers. And it's good for 70 73% for opening next year. I'm I'm I'm pleased with that. But, it's only as those numbers are only as good as what confidence and level we have behind that. So, I'm just asking for >> To reassure you, we also have as I mentioned, the architect is present and he is on his computer as project manager with us and he he oversees that with us and enters all the data into the company with whom we work. Um >> I'm not doubting anybody. I'm just saying I just like to have a level of confidence that it's being reported correctly. And I'm not calling anyone out on this. I'm just saying, you know,
046first time I've heard a number like this. And like you said, you drive by, that's that seemed like a high number, but maybe all the electrical work's done inside, maybe all the plumbing's work, all the HVAC's done. If that all is, that's that's a great thing, and I could see how those numbers are there. >> Mhm. >> Anyway, that's >> I feel confident that they the leadership were provided by we're actually we're paying it paying for that leadership through the the architectural firm who is ever present for our meeting. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you, Dr. Stallings. Uh do we have any uh board member updates or meeting reports? >> I have not heard about any meetings for the for the extension office, but um mark your calendars. Uh Junior Livestock Association is at
047the fair this week um tonight uh 6:00 p.m. um breeding show, Wednesday tomorrow evening 4:00 p.m. the market goat show, 7:00 tomorrow evening the market lamb show, Thursday evening uh is at 6:00 p.m. is the market hog show, Friday the 31st >> [clears throat] >> pardon me, the market rabbit show, and at 6:00 p.m. the market steer show. Uh again on Saturday 4:00 p.m. buyers' reception and 5:00 p.m. the livestock sale. So, um please go out and support our students, um the Junior Livestock Association, the FFA, our 4-H kids. Um that's all I have. >> I'd like to comment if I may about that. I am more than impressed. Have been more than impressed about the turnouts to those sales and the students. We need to be really proud of our students. They are busting
048and doing all the stuff you should be doing and raising and taking great pride in what they do. Um it is a it's it's an event to just watch. Of course, it's great it's better if you go and buy, but it's an event that just shows the skill that we have in Taylor County with regard to livestock. Great future. >> Um Thank you, Mr. Weigner. I would like to um make a request. And I And And so, I'm just going to say it now for all four of the committees and as they get reported on tonight, it'll be the same question. Uh Can you Can you provide and everybody on those committees, the library and the Vo-Tech and the safety committees as well, uh a list of when meetings happen, whether they're quarterly, monthly, uh
049semi-annually, or whatever, and and and when you'll be able to report uh from that. Uh And And I don't You don't have to do it tonight, but at the next meeting, just give us an update. Because if you meet quarterly, then there's no need to really, unless something happened, to report on that. But I don't know when they meet. I don't know when the library board meets. >> they're all different, so I know Mr. Taylor >> center meets the second Wednesday of every month. >> Of every month. >> Okay. So So, then like the following Tuesday would be a good time to have a good update. So, thank you. >> They They My understanding is the extension service only meets if they want to hire someone. So >> So, you're We're talking like here like
050uh you're you're on the extension service, but that covers the Camp Tols from what I understand. >> That's correct. >> Which has the biggest in I mean, I'm very pleased to hear about the junior livestock, and I'm well aware of what's going on there, and and probably If I If I If I remember, every single student is a Taylor County school student, you know. But uh And so, there was a a discussion last meeting or before, uh where there is supposedly a Camp Tols board itself that's part of that extension service, and that's the one that interests us a lot, especially since we're putting out >> Sure, and I don't know who chairs that board. I don't chair the board. So, anything you could find out and report back would be great. And when How
051often they meet and all that. Thank you. >> I was going to ask the same thing. I'm on the safety committee and I didn't even realize we had a new safety director. So, could someone point me in the direction of who's on that committee and when they meet? >> Yes, as I mentioned at the last meeting or the meeting prior, according to our policy, I'm doing I'll be sending out invitations for the the meetings that will be happening beginning in September. Our safety director is Mrs. Shoemaker. Those invitations have not been sent out because it hasn't been scheduled yet. Or that list hasn't been finalized. >> And I'd like to follow up as well, add on pile on to my other questions. I'm assuming each one of these committees has some kind of like a
052mission statement or a set of goals and objectives and and things that they expect to accomplish. So, I'd like to have that reported back. >> the policy delineates who and what. And it's been of that particular committee. >> Okay, and I assume that all the committees have sort of that that you know, there's got to be a purpose for the meeting and the committee and and for participating and goals and objectives maybe don't get set till like the second meeting and then it lasts for a year. I don't know. I just like to understand all that. So, thank you. >> All right, that moves us to the 2000 series. So, minutes, policies, contracts, and agreements. So, the superintendent respectfully requests the approval of the minutes from the regular meeting on July 21st, 2026. Do I
053have a motion? Mr. Summers moves. Mrs. Butler seconds. Any comments, questions, concerns? All those in favor? I. Any opposed? The eyes have it. So that moves us down to um some policies that are in our third reading. So we have a couple there. >> Both of them reference the short the uh critical need issues. >> The superintendent respectfully requests approval of items 2017 through 2018 in the 2000 series. >> So moved. >> Mr. Summers moves. >> Second. >> Mr. Whitehill seconds. Any comments, questions, concerns? >> I have a question uh >> [clears throat] >> It says that retired teachers that are employed to perform expanded substitute service uh are are uh not eligible uh to uh substitute after if in the same fiscal year. Does Does that mean if someone uh retires in June uh
054>> They can't fill their own position back. So if someone retires, they can't be the next person to fill their immediate position back. But this this policy is required. It's part of a state requirement to allow retired teachers to substitute in areas of critical need. So what has to happen is this has to be reapproved every year. Then once you approve it, it goes to the state Board of Education to approve. Once they approve it, then if we we have a need that where we cannot find a certified personnel to fill that job, a substitute uh that's retired and certified in the area can substitute for the whole year without being penalized for their retirement. That's what That's why we have to we have to re uh reapprove this every single year. But yes, you
055So I could not retire from my job tomorrow and then you hire me back in it the next day. I have to I have to sit out that It's It's not a true retirement, so that's part of why that's a requirement. >> But if if they return in June, the next fiscal year starts in July? >> They still can't be the next first person to fill the job they just left. So, if someone else takes the job and then they leave, then they could go into it, but they can't I just can't retire and then go back right into my same job. And now the new the new law of the 60-day wait, which we talked about last year, changed. So, they have to wait 60 days to be able to do it anyway. So,
056really that won't more than likely happen because we we can have somebody that retires June 30th, but we cannot even we cannot even talk to them about being a substitute until 60 days after their retirement goes into effect, which would be I couldn't approve them to be a substitute until September. I'm not supposed to even talk to them about being a substitute until that 60-day window is up. So, it really that kind of changes the whole policy anyway. That's not going to be something that happens anyway. >> Any other comments, questions, concern? We have an open motion on the floor. All those in favor? >> I. Any opposed? The eyes have it. Resolve that the bylaws and policies printed and codified in the comprehensive document entitled bylaws and policies of the Taylor County Board of
057Education are hereby adopted and that all bylaws and policies heretofore adopted by the Taylor County Board of Education are hereby rescinded. Further be it resolved that in the event any policy, part of a policy, or section of by the bylaws is judged to be inconsistent with the law, inoperative by a court of competent jurisdiction or is invalidated by a policy or contractually adopted by this board, the remaining bylaws, policies, and parts of the policies shall remain in full effect. And it moves us further into our agenda into memorandums of understanding still in the 2000 series. Superintendent respectfully requests approval of items 2019 through 2021 in the 2000 series. >> So moved. >> Mrs. Beltner moves. >> Second. >> Mr. Taylor seconds. Comments, questions, concerns. >> Yeah, just a um quick question. Um what type of
058train I'm I'm all for a school resource officer, um but what kind of uh training um elementary wise, middle school wise, high school wise, what kind of training specific training um do these SROs get? And are they a part of um I was very impressed um when we were at Fleming Elementary. I was very impressed with Capturing Kids Hearts. And I was hoping to see that um on August the 17th, I believe is when we're going to do the Capturing Kids Hearts, um that our SROs will be there for that. >> That is uh to answer your first question, are you asking if they're certified in education? >> No, no, no. Just What kind of What kind of training it Just Just beyond their >> Law enforcement. >> state academy. Remember their their purpose is
059there primarily to secure the building from any kind of assault or any kind of attack. As ugly as that sounds, it's a security circumstance that we have and that's why they the those individuals are there. Participating as a part of those other trainings and awareness and um working well with students is open to them to participate as well. I would just hope we would encourage that. >> Yeah, I I can tell you that for sure that Anna Jarvis' SRO participated in the Capturing Kids Hearts last year. I was there for that opening day training. He participated in the whole day and he he was having a great time with those teachers. It was a great way to icebreaker and get to know each other. So I do know I can speak to that for sure.
060He was there. I was at that particular training. So they're invited to to attend that for sure. And this will be school-based on those days. So they should be at the school there to to participate. For Capturing Kids Hearts. I can speak on that one. >> Any other questions? I did have a question um on item 2020. Is that an increase from the previous year? >> In fact, it is. It this uh there are two entities with whom we work. Uh County Commission and City Council. Uh one is overseeing the uh the Chief of Police and the other's a Sheriff's Department. And uh the first one is an increase. They were indicating that they felt that they were experiencing they They shared with me that they would be willing to go that route with a
061slight increase. Air air quotes about the word slight. But that increase is based on such things as increasing insurances and liabilities and things that they are now picking up on their part is of that contract as well. Um they were just asking us to consider adding that to uh our portion. Unlike that, the uh City Council on the other hand did not choose to go in that direction. Uh two completely different entities, two completely different councils. Okay. >> And we're >> And one deals with and jurisdiction. The reason it's jurisdiction, one the reason we have two is different jurisdictions throughout the county. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to cut you off. >> No, that's okay. I just was clarifying that we're confident in that funding source of that increase. >> It is my understanding that
062we yes, are we confident that we have the funding for that? Yes, ma'am. Yes, we do. >> Superintendent, we have the uh motion that has been on the floor and has been seconded. Any other comments, questions, or concerns for Dr. Stallings? All right, all those in favor? I. Any opposed? The eyes have it. That moves us to the 3000 series. So, we have um consent calendar. So, this is the one we had some verbage edits to. So, Superintendent respectfully requests approval of items 3001 in the 3000 series. Do I have a motion? >> So moved. >> Mr. Summers moves. I'll second. Any comments, questions, concerns? All those in favor? I. Any opposed? Motion passes. Moves us to our 4000 series financial. So, Mr. Dolan, do you have things you want to share with us? >>
063[clears throat] >> Yes, good evening. Um inside your packet uh you should have received the updated uh spreadsheet from last week. Uh I made the correction to the the sales that didn't uh didn't calculate properly. So that was in there from from last week upon your request. Is there any questions regarding that? >> I I I have again I I I promised you and warned you maybe is the better word that this is sort of a work in progress for a while. Um just one well two comments. One your capital improvements I'm assuming because there is pretty good surplus there but that includes the funding available for the Anna Jarvis construction correct? >> That is correct. >> Could could we pull that one out just have a Anna Jarvis construction out of the capital improvement
064and leave the rest of the capital improvement there because it's it's such a large thing. I think it it kind of overshadows everything and I think it'd just be a little clearer and then once Anna Jarvis complete it could just go away and we still have our capital improvements. So is that difficult thing to do? >> I just got to pull the account codes out and separate them out into a different report. >> Yeah just right under here just where you have capital improvements make that two lines capital improvement and Anna Jarvis construction and >> Okay. >> And that's that's it and then the last column says monthly excess deficit. Isn't that more of an annual excess deficit? Cuz that doesn't that compare actuals year-to-date against the budget total? >> It does. >> So I
065think the title's all I need just that looks like an annual excess deficit. Okay. So not a monthly. Just just ask for that correction but other than that it's really looking good. I applaud you for working with us on this and it's looking really great. So thank you. >> Okay. Next [clears throat] item. >> Mhm. >> Sorry. >> I was just going to say I agree. I think it's um easy to read. Thank you Mr. Dolan. I know you've worked hard on that. >> Okay. I will make those corrections and we'll have that on the second second meeting in August. Sorry, I can't remember what the date is, but Um next [clears throat] party of uh the items that I have in the packet for you uh we received a couple uh grants uh since
066the last meeting. We received uh some extensions to some grants that uh actually had expired in FY26, but the state extended those to us so we could use those uh use those monies up. Uh they were some farm-to-school uh extensions, so those are child nutrition programs uh that uh allow purchase of of uh certain food items that come, you know, from locally grown sources uh to, you know, to provide the kids for lunches and breakfasts and everything. Uh we also received our um early literacy grant. Uh that's to help uh promote uh reading in the schools. So, typically they the schools purchase uh supplies for their libraries and books and stuff uh for their book vending machines with uh with those funds. Uh then we also received several of our uh uh CTE grants, actually
067all of them uh our Perkins grants. Uh CTE block grant that comes from the state and then the CTE equipment grant that helps the the high school replace any equipment that they might need uh for those programs. Um and then we also had a teacher leader uh extension uh for a grant that that it had expired in FY26. Uh they extended that out to provide stipends to um leadership throughout the county for different uh for those different after-school [clears throat] programs. And then the next part of the packet, uh there are checks that uh had already been written. We didn't have a lot since the last uh the last meeting since they were so close together. Uh we had um retirement for uh one of our payrolls and then we had some checks written for
068uh looks like uh uh water one of our water bills at one of the schools. So, that's all I have for for checks to be written. Anybody have any questions? >> Thank you, Mr. Dolan. >> You're welcome. >> Superintendent respectfully requests the approval of the items in the 4000 series. >> So moved. >> Mr. Summers moves. >> I'll second. >> Mr. Taylor seconds. Any questions? Okay. All those in favor? I. Any opposed? Okay. That moves us to our 5000 series uh student matters, personnel, legal matters. We have some uh student matters, we have personnel, employment, transfers, extracurriculars, resignations, service personnel. Superintendent respectfully requests approval of items 5048 through 5058 in the 5000 series. >> So moved. >> Mrs. Beltner moves. >> I'll second. >> Mr. Whitehair seconds. Comments, questions, concerns. >> I do have one
069question, please. >> Sure. >> Um I'm all for and support of request for students to drive themselves to UTC. Um I'm assuming then that that you know, if they were if they were on a school bus and got hurt driving over there, that the county's liable and has the insurance. But in this case, approval of this means they're responsible for their own insurance and liabilities. >> Dr. Stallings, can you clarify that? >> They are expected to have their own insurance for that. Yes, ma'am. >> It relieves Approving this relieves the county school system from any issues with that. >> That is my understanding. I also want to let you know that before this comes to my attention, there's a process we have put into place at the high school where they must apply and be
070approved at the high school level with Mr. Knott, the principal. Uh so, this is an additional layer this year that we're adding to that. Uh so that there's no surprises with regard to scheduling issues at the high school, and once that's been approved as worked out, then it's put on our agenda by me for you to approve beyond that. >> Dr. Stallings, I noticed that these are handwritten notes. Do we not have a form? A little something a little bit more standard for this. >> Probably should. I don't know that I have I don't know that I can confirm that for you. Uh I know that often we have recently these individuals have sent us emails, and uh we're just in email conversation, and we've requested that they at least get provide us something in
071writing. Uh more more appropriate should be on a form, but I would My initial goal was to seek somebody's actual signature, not just uh you know, um Mr. Whitehair writing a note saying his parents said it was okay, but sent it in the name of his parents. I love my kids. I'm not suggesting a child would do that, but we just try to protect ourselves. >> I think it would be nice though if we had a a little bit more of a >> Sure. >> formal >> Totally makes sense. >> form for that. I mean, I know we do when we people ask to use our facilities or transfers and things like that. And I just think with the the questions that Mr. Summers brought up, I think it would be nice if we had
072something a little more formal. >> Excellent question. We'll be We'll address that quickly. >> And and I think it'd be very good because then we could put a line on there that basically says, you know, "Student accepts and parents accept responsibility for accidents and so on from that and relieves the school board." So, thank you. Good point. >> Were those in the past separate? Did we vote on those separately before? >> We We Dr. Decker and I were noting that there's a missing piece on the agenda, nothing about detail other than we typically separately vote on those particular requests. And then we move into the remainder of the >> Okay. >> separating it from student-related and personnel-related. And that is my apology. I that slipped by me as we were reviewing the the agenda preparation.
073>> So So with that said, we could just here amend the the >> I cannot hear you. >> put that in there after the 50/50? Would that be the place to insert that? >> It would be appropriate that would I would be recommending that you approve 5048 through 5050 as a separate. >> Okay. >> And then the subsequent vote would be starting with 5051. >> I so move that we do that and get the agenda changed for that. >> So you're moving that the agenda be changed or you vote? >> I'm voting for the agenda to be changed to add that vote in there. >> you go. It'll be done without even a vote, Mr. Summers. We'll do that. That was merely an oversight, an omission. >> I was just trying to be formal because
074we changed to >> For sure. >> out in an earlier >> Well, just so so those parents who might be listening, you still you have already approved that they can have their students participate that way. All right. >> Did you have a question? >> Yeah, we're going to vote on each one of them separately. >> Well, you can vote on the student matter category. >> It'll be together. I do have another question. >> I suppose that it is just for clarification. Excuse me, Mrs. Galler. There could be a request by a board member at some point or some even that says I would request that we do separate votes for those, and that would be up to the board president to make that determination. >> I I've moved already to do that. >> Okay, I
075will second it. So, we have a motion on the floor to have uh items and through 5050 as a separate vote, and that's been seconded. Um all those in favor? I. Any opposed? >> In the future, we will even do that. We will delineate that one at a time. >> All right, so let me make this notation here. So, I did have another question on item 5055. Um on this resignation, will this uh position then repost? And is this um funding for this is this a grant? And we have funding for that. >> Yes, this is part of Mrs. Roberts' grants. So, once she received her funding in the end of at the end of the year, she had uh the hours stipulated what each school would receive, and she had them sign off if
076they wanted to return. Originally, this person had agreed to return, but now something's come up, and she's unable to do that. So, every other school's has already been approved on a previous agenda. So, we will just repost that one with the stipulation that Mrs. Roberts used in her agreement with how many hours. That will all be on the next Once we hire, you'll see that once we it'll be posted that way, and you'll hire them that way so as not to exceed the hours that Mrs. Roberts has the funding for. >> Okay. So, with the the change then, the superintendent respectfully requests the approval of items 5051 through 5058 in the 5000 series. >> So moved. >> And I'll second. >> I'm sure the same. Any further comments, questions, or concerns? All right. All those
077in favor? I. Any opposed? Okay. So, that moves us to the 8000 series. Um, I don't see that we have anything on here. Is there anything that we need to address that we haven't already? >> It's a quick turnaround from last week. >> I had asked at the first meeting if um, updates on the Anna Jarvis um, safety information could be on the agendas each time. So, can we put that back on there? >> Safety updates, or just updates about the program in general? >> Safety updates at Anna Jarvis about >> That might be the result of the committee meetings that we're proposing will happen per policy if you prefer it to be that way. >> But, we're not not having a meeting until September. >> Well, there might be a different not changes that
078once things are implemented, I'm not arguing with arguing with you. I just think there might not be something new to tell them other than that's been decided, that's being implemented. >> Is that something that may be in your superintendent updates that you could insert there? Um, if there's anything new prior to the >> By all means, whenever there's additional information to be shared, I could do it that way as well. >> Yes. >> It may not be every meeting, like I said, because it might be something that's in process and hasn't played out or been implemented and there's no changes to that or updates to be available. I would just like to I just don't want to say, "Well, same old, same old." And that's kind of you're going to say, "Why bother telling me
079that?" But yes, indeed, we'll put that in the part of the How about that? We'll do that updates. >> All right. Hearing no other comments, we'll move to the 9000 series for future meetings. So, August 11th at 6:00 here at the board office, August 25th 6:00 at the board office as well as September 8th and 22nd at 6:00 at the board office. Then on October 13th at 6:00, we will be at Taylor County Middle School. That will start our series of visits to our schools. And then October 27th at 6:00, we'll be back here at the board office. Any additions needed? Nope. >> I'm sorry. No, not that. In fact, this is kind of there are no additions to make. >> Okay. Thank you. All right. So, that moves us down to Do we have
080a motion to adjourn? >> So moved. >> Mr. Taylor moves. >> Second. >> Mrs. Beltner seconds. Um so, we will adjourn our meeting at 7:08. Thank you all for joining and uh all that you do. >> I hope you students learned something tonight. I don't